The ground shook violently beneath Aria's feet.
Cracks spread like veins across the ancient stone floor, glowing faintly with a dark, unnatural energy. The sanctuary—once a place beyond the reach of the Void—was no longer safe.
It was being claimed.
"Stay behind me!" Aria shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
But Rowan didn't answer.
Aria glanced back—
And her heart dropped.
Rowan stood frozen, his head slightly lowered, his body unnaturally still. The red mark on his chest burned brighter than ever before, pulsing like a living heart.
"Rowan…" she whispered.
Something was wrong.
No…
Something had already changed.
A sharp screech tore through the air.
The Void creatures had begun their attack.
They moved unnaturally fast—flickering, distorting, as if they existed between reality and something far worse.
One lunged straight at Aria.
CLANG!
Her blade met its twisted form, light clashing against pure darkness. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but the creature didn't fall.
It laughed.
A broken, hollow sound.
Aria's eyes narrowed. "You're not like the others…"
The creature's body twisted further, reforming instantly.
Then three more appeared behind it.
"…Great."
Without hesitation, Aria moved.
Her body flowed like light itself—fast, precise, unstoppable.
She slashed once—
Then twice—
Then spun, her blade releasing a burst of radiant energy.
"Lumina Strike!"
A wave of pure light exploded outward, tearing through the Void creatures.
This time—
They screamed.
Their forms shattered, dissolving into nothingness.
But the victory lasted only a second.
More appeared.
Dozens.
No—
Hundreds.
They poured out from the cracks in the air, falling from the broken sky like a nightmare given form.
Aria's breath caught.
"This… isn't a battle," she muttered.
"It's an invasion."
Behind her, Rowan suddenly dropped to one knee.
"Ghh—!"
"Rowan!" Aria turned again, panic flashing across her face.
She couldn't fight like this.
She couldn't protect him—
And stop them all.
For the first time since the battle began—
Aria hesitated.
And that was enough.
A Void creature slipped past her guard.
It lunged straight toward Rowan.
"No!"
Aria moved instantly—but she was too far.
Too slow.
Too late.
The creature reached him—
And then—
Stopped.
Frozen mid-air.
Aria blinked.
"…What?"
The creature's body began to tremble violently.
Then—
CRACK.
It shattered.
Not from light.
From something else.
Something darker.
Something… stronger.
A cold wind spread across the battlefield.
Every Void creature froze.
Silence fell.
Aria's heartbeat quickened.
She already knew.
Slowly—
She turned.
Rowan was standing again.
But something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
His head was still lowered.
His face hidden in shadow.
The red mark on his chest had spread—thin, vein-like patterns stretching across his neck… his arms…
His fingers twitched.
And then—
He spoke.
"…Pathetic."
Aria froze.
That voice—
It wasn't his.
"Rowan…?" her voice trembled.
He lifted his head.
His eyes—
Were no longer human.
One glowed red.
The other…
Was completely black.
Endless.
Empty.
Terrifying.
Aria took a step back without realizing it.
"No…"
Rowan—no, something wearing Rowan—tilted his head slightly.
"These creatures…" he said calmly, looking at the frozen Void monsters.
"…are beneath me."
With a simple flick of his hand—
They all exploded.
Every single one.
Gone.
As if they had never existed.
Aria's breath stopped.
This wasn't power she recognized.
This wasn't flame.
This wasn't anything from their world.
"Rowan, stop this!" she shouted, forcing strength into her voice. "Come back to me!"
For a moment—
He didn't move.
Then slowly—
His gaze shifted to her.
And something flickered.
A crack.
A hesitation.
"…Aria…" he whispered.
Hope ignited instantly.
"Yes! It's me!" she stepped forward. "You're still there—I know you are!"
She reached out her hand.
"Come back."
Silence.
The wind howled around them.
The broken sky pulsed above.
Rowan stared at her hand.
His fingers twitched.
For a second—
It looked like he would take it.
And then—
His expression changed.
Cold.
Distant.
Gone.
"You…" he said quietly.
"…are the only reason I hesitate."
Aria's hand froze in the air.
"What…?"
A surge of dark energy exploded from his body.
This time—
It wasn't wild.
It was controlled.
Terrifyingly controlled.
Aria was forced back again, barely managing to stay on her feet.
"Rowan!" she cried out.
But he didn't respond.
"The Gate…" he murmured, looking up at the broken sky.
"…must open."
"No!" Aria shouted. "That's not you talking!"
He ignored her.
Instead, he raised his hand toward the sky.
And the tear—
Expanded.
Slowly.
But undeniably.
Aria's eyes widened in horror.
"If that opens…" she whispered.
Everything would end.
She knew it.
Somehow—
She felt it.
Without thinking—
She ran toward him.
"I won't let you do this!"
Her blade ignited with blinding light.
Stronger than before.
Brighter than ever.
This wasn't just power.
This was everything she had.
Everything she was.
"Even if I have to fight you—"
Her voice broke.
"I'll bring you back!"
She swung her sword.
A massive arc of light cut through the air, heading straight for him.
For Rowan.
For the person she loved.
The attack reached him—
And stopped.
Again.
But this time—
He caught it.
With his bare hand.
Light and darkness collided violently, sending shockwaves across the sanctuary.
The ground shattered further.
The sky screamed.
And in the middle of it—
Rowan stood unmoved.
"…You've grown stronger," he said.
Almost… impressed.
Aria's hands trembled.
"Then don't make me prove it again," she whispered.
"Come back… please…"
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
A tear rolled down Rowan's cheek.
"…I'm sorry."
Everything stopped.
Aria's eyes widened.
"Rowan—?"
But it was already too late.
The darkness surged again—
Swallowing him completely.
When it faded—
He was gone.
Only the broken sky remained.
Only the growing tear.
Only the approaching end.
Aria stood there.
Frozen.
Her sword slipped from her hand.
Clattering softly against the ruined ground.
"…No…"
Her voice broke.
Not as a warrior.
Not as a hero.
But as someone who was about to lose everything.
Far above—
The Void pulsed.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somewhere within that endless darkness—
A voice echoed once more.
"The Key… has returned."